Arrest Made in Suspected Hate Crime

Suspect accused of shooting another in face with pellet gun

Published: Friday, January 4, 2013 at 7:32 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 4, 2013 at 7:32 a.m.

LUTZ | A 25-year-old man accused of shooting another with a pellet gun in what appears to be a hate crime earlier this week was arrested Thursday night, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said.

The victim and his girlfriend were headed toward their car early Wednesday in the Walmart parking lot at 1575 Land O' Lakes Boulevard when a man approached them. He asked the victim if he was Muslim or from the Middle East. The victim said no. But the man shot him twice at close range with a gas-propelled pellet gun while saying "N - - - - - with a white girl."

The attacker fired more than 20 pellets, deputies said.

When deputies released surveillance video and still photographs of the attacker earlier this week, the sheriff's office received several tips, including one that the man was staying at a hotel near State Road 54 and Interstate 75 in Pasco.

Detectives identified the attacker as Daniel P. Quinnell. He was arrested at the hotel and faces aggravated battery charges.

<p>LUTZ | A 25-year-old man accused of shooting another with a pellet gun in what appears to be a hate crime earlier this week was arrested Thursday night, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office said.</p><p>The victim and his girlfriend were headed toward their car early Wednesday in the Walmart parking lot at 1575 Land O' Lakes Boulevard when a man approached them. He asked the victim if he was Muslim or from the Middle East. The victim said no. But the man shot him twice at close range with a gas-propelled pellet gun while saying "N - - - - - with a white girl."</p><p>The attacker fired more than 20 pellets, deputies said.</p><p>When deputies released surveillance video and still photographs of the attacker earlier this week, the sheriff's office received several tips, including one that the man was staying at a hotel near State Road 54 and Interstate 75 in Pasco.</p><p>Detectives identified the attacker as Daniel P. Quinnell. He was arrested at the hotel and faces aggravated battery charges.</p><p>Quinnell was being booked into the Land O' Lakes jail early Friday.</p>